Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-04-24
THE DROP IN Nails
What Manufacturers Have TO Say Con-
esrning Il
The "COHFOUNDED" COMMERCE BILL
Blamed for a Large Part Of the
Trouble.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ing that mans ntsu Lakcn . DtS summons
from their high perch Of S2.7O per keg, to
the old figure before the raise, $2.25. A
fall Of As cents per key at one fell swoop
was something for comment, and has
been talked about generally the past two
days. A REGISTER reporter, on behalf OF
curious public and to satisfy his own
enquiring mind, made a tour OF the offices
of the nail manufacturers, with intent to
obtain such information as would dispel
the eloud of uncertainty.
''what is the cause of the fall? ' was
asked of a well known member Of the
Western Nail Association.
"Well, can hardly say. 1t is the ma
tural course Of things. The spring trade
has been duh and there was not much use
keeping nails up so high when none were
selling"
"But what is the cause of the dullness,
and the fact that nearly all the mills m
the Wheeling district are closed down. Do
YOU attribute it to the Interstate Com
merce bill?"
ITO great extent do. You see about
the time the spring trade ought to have
opened up that confounded bill went into
effect and pushed up rates to through
points about 70 per cent. higher than form
erly, which pushed us out of the market to
some extent and put a quietus on what
otherwise might have been n good season.
When the big carpenters strikes in several
Of the large cities and the consequent I'M
settled condition Of the building trade
helped TO made the demand for nails rather
slow, and that is about the cause, as far as
know. / also know that q great many
merchants are kicking vigorously against
the intricate Interstate Commerce bill"
That's awful. Good day."
"What caused nails to drop so, interro-
gated the scribe of another nail magnate.
Various things, sir; various things. One
of them is the fact that there was little
work going on that we just caught on to.
In was in thiswise: Our customers would
write us asking the price for certain kinds
of nails We answered either by telegraph
OF letter, as the urgency of the ease de-
manded, and that would be the last heard
ofthe matter. Upon investigating the cause
we found that some of the new members OF
the Western Nail Association had been sell
/ ing nails at figure far below our card rate
and supplying our customers. Something
must be done to counterfeit that state OF
/ affairs, and we just hustled off As cents TO
throw these cheap people on their backs.
There isn't so much difference in our
profit when the reduction in the price OF
making the article is considered.
"Well, what is the cause of the dull
ness in the business ?n
1.-The Interstate Commerce Bill which has
had the effect Ofputting up the rates, is in a
great measure responsible, assisted by the
/ the carpenters strikes in different parts oil
the country but there is one thing that
has probably been lost sight of-the fact
that dealers stocked up very heavily be,
fore the first Of April in anticipation o.
the advance in rates effected by the Inter
State Commerce bill. This fact, takeI
in consideration with the slow demand
consequent upon the strikes and cut il
prices, probably explain why the factories
in she Wheeling district have been idl,
for the past few weeks. But since thu
card has been run down to $225, severa
of the largest strikes settled, and the Inter
State Commerce Bill in fair way to b.
paralyzed, things begin to put on bright
er look, and orders are gradually increas
ing in size and frequency, so we may hOp'
for something better in the future. "
The reporter hoped so too and left
pretty we'll satisfied what OCcasiOned tn
dullness and drop. But from that Their
might still be another cause, he sprung tn
same question on another manufacture
with the following result:
III think that some of the mills outside
of the Association have become a it'll
hard up and sent out their card rate a
s.. 30 per key. OF course that beat q 81. Y
card all to pieces and they scOoped in tn
cream. We discovered this little game
, saw them and went them five better, an,
that's where we catch them. Wheeling
nails have q reputation that will Sci
them above any other nails in the countr,
when prices are equaliZed. Then agail
do you know how many kegs Of nails pc
day the Wheeling district has the capacit
. of turning out?"
The reporter prOfeSsed ignorance and tn
speaker continued:
"In this district we can Just turn on
about $4,000 keys per day or great dea
over One-half the demand Of the Unitet
States That is another reason why th
, mills are not running full up and that th
country is not clamOTing for nails"
The reporter could possibly have receiy
ed other reasons, but he was fully..Satisiet
and it Is also hoped his information wi
- satisfy wondering public.